National Party Leader Simon Bridges has denied Jami-Lee Ross' accusations he tried to disguise political donations, saying he welcomes a police investigation into the matter.

The Botany MP, on Monday named by PwC the likely leaker of Bridges’ travel expenses, has called Bridges “corrupt” and accused him of breaking the Electoral Act.

Ross claims Bridges tried to disguise a $100,000 donation from a Chinese businessman Yikun Zhang, a $10,000 donation from the Cathedral Club, and a $14,000 donation from an Exclusive Brethren-related company, Cubro Ltd.

He says he’ll take his accusations, including a recording he secretly made of Bridges, to the police on Wednesday.

Ross also claims Bridges tried to push him out of the party by accusing him of harassing four women.

We welcome your help to improve our coverage of this issue. Any examples or experiences to relate? Any links to other news, data or research to shed more light on this? Any insight or views on what might happen next or what should happen next? Any errors to correct?

Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.

143 Comments

'When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all (all)
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a (Simon) bridge(s) over troubled water'

Post election one would have thought the coalition was the likely contender for fracturing & self imploding. Not so, it is the opposition. National are not alone in this but they have had their fair share of low calibre and troublesome MP’s. Gilmour, Barclay in recent times. Something is awry in their selection criteria & process perhaps. In fact we have far too many MP’s apropos our electorate. Perhaps if we got them down to the 90 or so pre MMP, and as recommended by the relative Royal Commission the deadbeats could be culled in the process.

Haha recommended by the Royal Commision. How about recommended by the democratic process of Referendum in 1999 by the common-sense people of NZ? Leading to 9 years of Labour with no reduction in the number of MPs... Don't get me wrong, National are just as undemocratic. Both parties need a cull. Maybe should follow the prescription of MPI and attempt "eradication" of the bad-apple MP's

NZr’s at the the time (hasn’t really changed much) were sick and tired of the whole political scene. Hence the movement to replace FPP. The politicians did not want change. Mule headed and subjective as always, a light bulb came on and. they thought, heck if they don’t like or rate 90 of us, they won’t vote for 30 more of the same. David Lange recorded that as the most reprehensible collective act he ever witnessed in parliament.

If it is true this is very serious for National and perhaps a crime for Bridges (former Crown prosecutor as well). If the claims are false then Ross might face a defamation suit. Overall, not good for National as a party and again shows that parties need to make sure they get the right people.

Color me a bit dim, but why wouldn't you just disclose the source of the donations, or, have a better way of hiding them if it is really a questionable Chinese transaction. Something like claiming something about a casino....oh that's right they tried that for the last ten years, it was called Auckland housing speculation.

Ross is 'lying, leaking & lashing out' and should go to the police who should investigate, Bridges says, adding he has done nothing wrong. "There is zero chance of me having done anything illegal, I can guarantee you that."

It will be interesting to see if there is one law for MPs/white-collar-criminals and another law for everybody else. Though I'm not an expert in electoral law, these accusation sound damning and speak to illegal behavior.

MPs have done things or par with this in the past and felt the consequences from their respective party and constituency.

MPs are PAID to represent their electorate and pass/amend legislation, yet National are busy playing stupid games and trying to "score hits". It's pathetic behavior - National look like a bunch of overpaid clowns! REALITY - GRIP IT~!!!

That can't be correct - it must come down to intent. A private conversation i one in which both paries expect that they are the only persons privy to the information being discussed. To record the conversation and pass that information onto another party, would violate the 'private' part and make it a public conversation.

Well I am relying on a quote by Kevin Milne advocating for consumer viz “ Yes, in New Zealand you’re legally entitled to record the people you are speaking to on the phone without telling them.” Now admittedly that was seven years or so ago. And yes your point is quite pertinent as there is no mention of what you can or cannot do with the recording or where you can take it. Perhaps if it kept in the private circle itself it is not a problem. Although, I myself once had occasion to record a meeting without declaring it. My lawyer would have been more than happy to use it in court if it had got that far.

Correct - you can record it, but you can't do anything with it (i.e. make it public). It becomes a question of intent and in theory it can only be passed upon legally if the law has been broken (which might save JLR..) or if life is in danger (i.e. someone telling you they're going to harm another individual). Or if you happen to have pre-approval from director of GCSB/Prime Minister before recording!

It was one of those sort of swing songs, Guy Mitchell era, that the radio would always be playing when you were sick in bed away from school. For years I hought it was poor old Elijah, & never quite got how exactly it could connect to the prophet!

Seems like JLR doesn't have much of a future in NZ. Who would give him a job in any organisation fronting role or anything requiring personal trust after this debacle? In retrospect Bridges seems to have played things pretty fairly. Will be interested to see what if anything comes of JLRs allegations of Bridges breaking laws - police are extremely lax in prosecuting matters relating to breaking electoral law.

Yes, I was responding to this part of the original statement "Who would give him a job in any organisation fronting role or anything requiring personal trust after this debacle?"

He's toast. He didn't come out straight away when asked to do (allegedly) illegal things, and he's backstabbed the party leader. He failed at both the high level integrity test, and the faithful lieutenant test.

Current Government, if clean should look into foreign donation/lobbying in politcal environment in NZ (As that will mean that the government is working for rich foreigners and plaining policies to suit them - no wonder National turned a blind eye to foreign buyers role in NZ housing market).

The suspicion is that money has been going to the Nats that has come from the Chinese govt. Fine, I guess, if it comes from the Chinese greengrocer down the road, but the Chinese govt. Wonder if that could be got to the bottom of?
Personally, I think every cent should be declared for the inspection purposes,if not for the perusal of anybody and everybody at any time.

On a slightly more serious note, I think we have matured enough not to need in the definitions of what constitutes a charity for taxation purposes "the promotion of religion". Just get rid of that and many of these rorts, gone, such as Gloravale, rich as Croesus yet still able to claim charitable status, most likely because of that.

http://www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org/faqs/technology-law-polit... please read for the facts so you can make more informed comments. Ill put my hand up as belonging to the brethren and if you want my accountants phone number he'd be happy to advise on the million dollars plus in tax I have paid and the hundreds of employees supported while competing on a level playing field as a small business owner since 2005.

What I am surprised about is that no one is talking about the greater internal war within the National Party. Looks at the bunch that have put their weight in behind Bridges. They all have a bit of previous form, not much integrity in the bunch. Of Barclay and Collins I would say they are downright rotten. Bridges was their chance to put on a respectable face for the team, but he represents their only chance. This will spark a wider fight for power.

Similar in Australia with their Right Wing divisions. Swap the name 'Tanya" for the Labor soldier on the hill to Jacinda, and chuckle as Labour, here, watch National tear itself apart. No need fro them to do anything....https://tinyurl.com/ycg9udqh

Maybe so. Safe seat alright. I can't see Jami leaving politics all together if and when he looses the seat. He's be a councilor from 18yoa. This whole saga continues for many years to come. National just made a professional enemy.

In Singapore this week chasing up some potential contract work so not full au fait with the current news. Re JLR, I think Simon was weak. Not as weak at Jetsinduh with Meka the Muss and Curren, but I think he should have anticipated JLRs options and publicly executed him yesterday. Let's face it, JLR's working life in NZ was over no matter what he did, but he could have shown a more ruthless front to scare the monkeys.

As for the accusations, let the Police do their job and see where it comes out. If Simon and others have done wrong then they should meet a similar fate as JLR. Whatever the case, I'll still vote for the party and my local National candidate. To do otherwise is to deny my children a real future.

Strange that your children's future is being held to ransom when mine isn't. Suggest you change the topic of dinner conversation perhaps? What your children will thank you for later on might surprise you.

I hope that my children will go on to earn an income as good as their old man once had. As such, I don't want them to be lumbered with the socialist burden of the indigent and indolent i.e. Comrade Taxinda's nirvana Your children may have a different future in mind. Let's hope they don't have their snouts in the trough mine will be expected to fill, if they stay in NZ (I hope they don't as that would show a lack of spirit)

I hope your children will go on to not be as ideologically flaccid and disingenuous as their old man.
I don't want to be burdened by their WFF draw downs, like I have been by their father who despite his self proclaimed indispensability can't find a job.
Socialism when it suits is the name of the game, eh expat.

As far as I can tell, your children will be burdened more by the likes of yourself than your deplorables.

I can't recall saying I was indispensable. I was simply well paid for a role that is not currently in demand i.e. advising distressed companies. At 57, I have to accept that I've reached the end of my salaried career unless the DGM predictions come true. Contract work is still a possibility, but I need to be aware of tax implications. I filled the trough unwillingly but am not unwilling to take what is mine. A sentiment it appears I share with life long troughers like Winstone. It just shows how ridiculous the rules are that I can quality for WFF.

...a simple yes/no the $100K donation took place would have sufficed. Now it looks like another wasteful (and likely taxpayer funded) litigation process that's going to hide the truth from the public for many months. A complete and irresponsible waste of money in my view.

How can you vote for Jamie-Lee Ross? Even if his concerns around the donation are correct the mind explosion that has transpired since then is alarming. Leaking Bridges expenses, and now the petulant little tirade he has gone on now. If he had raised the issue with the caucus and they refused to act he could have made a principled stand and walked.

Given he was on leave for personal issues does someone need to be asking Jamie.. 'R U OK?'

End of the road for the National party. After revelations in "Hollow Men", the endless lies of 3% foreign buyers. Icing on that cake of course was the prime minister selling his mansion to a wealthy Chinese. National list MP Yang Jian who previously worked with Chinese military intelligence, and probably still does. Now these shady 100K donations. The whole thing stinks of corruption.

Interesting how we are increasingly seeing the exposure of the corruption and inner workings of the National Party.
No core values, other than “whatever works”, personified by JK, but now the party is struggling to maintain that clean veneer. “Be sure your dealings will find you out”.

Look how Chinese banks are stacked with ex Mp's with no banking experience.

"Shipley has just completed her nine year term as chairman of Genesis Energy. She is a director of milk, water and food export company Oravida and chairman of China Construction Bank New Zealand. She runs her own consulting and advisory business and has a number of international board roles."

what a lost opportunity for both sides, national needs a new national buddy party, JLR thinks he should be leader.
they should have sat down and done a deal, you go set up a new party we will support you with a seat (which we can pull if you FU) all we need is you to get a couple more Mp's in
give him two elections, if he doesn't pull any numbers pull the seat, dont let it end up like ACT

Painful interview. Bridges refusing to answer basic questions that should be easily answerable.

My impression is he's betting / hoping JLR has no evidence of his claims or that any evidence is inadmissable or insufficient, and in the meantime he's being studiously noncommittal in his answers, lest something come back to bite him.

'Shanghai stock exchange was up 1% in the first hour of trading but on news of Simon Bridges media interviews this evening has fallen back to close down another 0.85%. Fears grow in Shanghai that their political influence in New Zealand may have taken a major hit after 10 years of good times had by all.'

National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett says issues raised with Jami-Lee Ross had nothing to do with harassment, but were about inappropriate behaviour from Ross as a “married Member of Parliament”.

Simon should remember that in parliament,while your opponents are in front of you,your enemies are behind you.
As he stood there with his senior colleagues just behind him,his shoulder blades will have been twitching,as he anticipates his own Ides Of March-Et Tu Judith? Afterwards,as his political corpse is hauled away,he will be praised as a great leader,then quickly forgotten.

Is it illegal or unethical to engineer the splitting of large political donations to avoid identity of the donor?
Does this whole episode highlight the amount of political influence that other states have in NZ?

These national idiots are making the Col look like the better option already. Same old nasty arrogant faces, will struggle to vote for them. They need to get rid of the whole lot and start with new candidates if they want to have any chance next time.

Too many people jumping to conclusions on this site. If there is a recording that is going to be presented to the police today that supports the JLR claims and further investigation of the money trail supports it then I'm afraid Bridges is toast. Just watch how fast that "Committed National " caucus turns on him then and appoints a new leader.

As Anne-Marie Brady's paper points out - both major parties have sullied their copybooks - granted National more so than Labour - which is a really good reason for Labour and NZ First to get in there to nip it in the bud now.

Soon we'll get more reporting on the connections of the individual to the CCP.

Politicians of every colour, perhaps excepting the minor parties, are into it big time. Mayoral candidates included.

State fund all political parties is really the only way to go - and the added bonus is - they will have to demonstrate their productivity and innovation skills in working with near-equal sums of money to get their policies across during political campaigning.

After 15+ years in New Zealand he hasn’t learned English, he remains close to various PRC bodies including the embassy/consulate in New Zealand, is actively involved in various United Front entities and activities (including the cultural associations, which aren’t simply the equivalent of the Cornwall or Sussex associations, but vehicles through which the PRC seeks to exert control over ethnic Chinese in other countries)…..and he seems to assiduously cultivate connections to key figures in both our main parties (at least) – and, in turn (and this is the real shame) to be courted by them. And they give him official honours, for what seem – in effect – to be primarily services to the PRC.

Only a concerted effort by a citizen-organised movement is going to rid us of this sordid direction in NZ politics.

Absolutely, we pay MPs to represent us, not businesses, foreign entities, unions etc.. No donations, no unsaid quid pro quos. They're elected by the people to serve the people, with the people's interests at heart.

Controversially I'll also add that I think there should be a maximum age limit on voting, if people under 18 are prevented from voting then people who are more statistically likely to die before the next election should also be prevented from voting. Anyone over the average mortality age should have no say in the future of the country. A Logan's run of voting if you will.

The question is would state funding of political parties stop it.. or just drive it further underground?

And then there is always the fun question of what is the threshold to get state funding. Set the bar too low and it could becomes quite lucrative to set up a new minor party and say thanks for the free money, set it too high and it just further entrenches the strangelehold of the established parties and makes it impossible to get new parties into parliament with no funding.